Loose-leaf binder



Feb. 7, 193s. C, H; FRANZ, JR 1,896,667A

LoQsE LEAF BINDER Filed May 14, 1931 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 PATENT ,OFFICE CHARLES'H. FRANZ, In., oF WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Application Viled Hay 14,

This invention relates to improvements in loose-leaf binders. l

One of the objects of the presentinven-i tion is the provision of improvements in the 5 construction of loose-leaf binders, particularly adapted for use in containing and supporting in loose-leaf formation folders, such as small booklets and thel like, whereinvsupporting rods are loosely mounted upon suitable guides, so that the folders can be readily moved to permitlthem` to. lie in a substantially fiat position, as well as mounting the folders,rso that they can be quickly and easily removed or replaced within the binder. Another object of the present invention is the provision of a loose-leafbinder of the above character wherein a. removable retaining element is engaged with the end portions of the binder at one side of the folders mounted on the 'rods in the binder to retain a small number of folders in position close to each other so that they will not beV permitted to slide promiscuously in the binder and thus retain vthem in compact formation ready for use.

A further object'of the present inventionl is the provision of a loose-leaf binder which includes opposed hingedly connected covers having a metal base plate attached to the hinged portion thereof, with'y end guides carried by the metal plate upon-which are slidably mounted supporting rods adapted to engage within the leaves or folders, or the like, for supporting the folders between opposed cover members and also includes means for retaining a smallnumber of foldersat one side of the binder to prevent them from becoming detached from the rods and to prevent them from sliding about on the guide members.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanyingl drawing wherein: Y

Figurel l is a transverse sectional view taken through my improved binder;

vFigure 2 is a detailed longitudinal' sectional view; .f

1931. Serial No. 537,297.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a yieldable retaining strip, showing its application to thebinder; and,

F`gure 4 is a detailed terior of the binder.

My improved binder, in the present instance, includes the opposed cover members l and l., which comprise afcardboard stiifening element 2, covered upon the exterior by means of leather or other such similar covering to provide an outside covering 3. The two,` cover members l and l are provided with a lining 4 of any suitable material.

- `InFigure l, it will be noted that the cardboard stiener 2 and the outside cover 3 are 65 in intimate engagement throughout the Width of the cover, as well as in the hinged section 5 which connects the covers.

VHowever, in order to reinforce the central hinged section, I provide a metal plate 7U 6, slightly curved to provide a slightly curved back portion to the binder and retain the cardboard stiifener, as well as the outer covering 3 in its proper position, as shown in Figure 1. e

The inner cardboard stiifener 2 is coated with adhesive and the metal strip 6 is applied to the adhesive. Arranged between the lining 2 and the metal strip 6 is a card board strip 7 whichlentirely covers the inner 80 faceof the metal strip 6, thus positioning the metal strip 6 between two opposed-cardboard members, providing a comparatively rigid back portion for the binder. After the cardboard strip 7 has been positionedV on the 85 metal strip 6, the lining 4 at its central portion is then secured down tothe inner face ofthe cardboard 7 by means of any suitable type-of adhesive.

The above construction forms the outside 90 portion of the binder and provides hingedly mounted cover sections with a comparatively rigid back portion. In Figure 2, it will be noted that'the metal plate 6 has .Y tongues 8 struck uptherefrom which pass 95 through suitable slots 9 in the cardboard 7 and the central portionv ofthe lining 4. Positioned upon the lining 4 at the central portion of the rigid back of the binderis a metal channel member 10. the walls of which.: ml

plan view of the inare provided with inwardly struck out portions 11, forming retaining teats and the side walls of the channel extend throughout the entire length of the same and at each end, upwardly projecting stop tongues 12 are provided.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 2, the upper ends of the tongues 8 pass through suitable openings in the body portion of the channel member and are turned over as shown at 18 to engage the inner face of the intermediate portion of the channel member, thus securely connecting the -channel member to the rigid back portion of the binder.

It will be noted in the drawing, that I provide a supplementary cover, preferably of comparatively heavy paper, the intermediate portion 14 of which is arranged within the channel member 10 and the opposed side members 15 and 15 formed with openings therein to receive the teats 11 and the intermediate portion of the supplementary paper cover is retained in this position in the channel member by means of a yieldable retaining plate 16 which is arcuate in shape and arranged in opposed relation with the intermediate portion of the channel member, as shown in Figure 1, so that the longitudinal edges thereof engage beneath the inwardly projecting teats 11 and bind the supplementary cover to the side walls of the channel.

Angular guide members 17 are attached to each end of the channel member 10, as shown in Figure 2. These guide members are each provided with an inwardly projecting tongue 18 which extends beneath the intermediate portion of the channel member and is secured thereto by means of rivets 19. The upper edge of the member 17 forms a guide rail 20 disposed at right-angles to the body of the guide member, as shown in Figure 2.

Slidably mounted upon the guide rails 20 at each end of the binder are the retaining rods 21, the ends of which are slotted, as shown at 22, to form the spaced fingers 23 which are disposed upon opposite sides of the guide rails 20, so that these rods 21 can be moved transversely of the channel member to any desired position, so that the folders 24 carried by the rods 21 may be opened to a comparatively flat position. The rods 21 are flexible so that the same can be sprung into and out of engagement with the guide rails 20. v

When the binder is used with only a small number of folders mounted upon the guide rails, it will be noted that these folders can be moved to one side of the channel member and be securely retained against movement on the guide rails, by means of a yieldable retaining member 25 in the form of a yieldable metal strip, the intermediate portion of which is provided with spaced indentations 26, adapted to engage the outer face of the retaining plate 16, while the portions between the ends of the strip and these indentations are bowed outwardly as shown at 27 and the terminals are extended upwardly at an angle, as shown at 28 to engage beneath the rails 20 of the guide members, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. l

It will be apparent that when the angular ends 28 are engaged beneath the guide rails 20, as shown in Figure 3, the spaced indentations 26 are in intimate contact with the convex face of the plate 16 and due to this contact in connection with the bite of the terminals 28 on theguide rails, this strip will be securely retained against movement and will hold a small number of folders at one side of the binder, as shown in Figure 1.

The use of this retaining strip 25 is essential due to the fact that when only a small number of folders are arranged within the binder they will have a tendency to flop about and in some instances, may cause the lingers 23 to become disengaged from the guide rails 20, thus detaching the folders from the binder.

The construction of such a binder is comparatively simple and it can be manufactured and placed on the market at a comparatively low cost when the efficiency of the device is taken into consideration.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention,y it will be apparent from the foregoing that slight changes may be made in the construction when putting the invention into practice without departing from the spirit of the same or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A loose-leaf binder including a back portion, a channel member carried thereby, an arcuate plate arranged within the channel member with its convex surface innermost, guide members at the ends of the channel member, retaining bars slidably mounted on the guide members and a yieldable strip having contact with the innermost face of the arcuate plate and its ends engaged with the guide members for retaining said bars against lateral movement on the guide members.

2. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back portion, a longitudinally extending channel member carried thereby, a transversely curved retaining plate connected with the channel member, guide members at the ends of the channel member, retaining bars slidably mounted on the guide members, and an independent yieldable member extending the full length of the channel member detachably engaging the guide members and in frictionally engaging with the retaining plate and guide members for retaining said binder bars against lateral shifting movement.

3. A loose-leaf binder comprising opposed cover members and a substantially rigid back to which they are hingedly connected, a channel member connected with the rigid back, guide members at the ends of the channel member, a transversely curved retaining plate connected with the channel member, retaining bars slidably mounted on the guide members, and a longitudinally extending resilient clamping member having a centrally disposed retaining plate engaging portion, side arcuate flexible portions and upstanding terminals for detachably engaging under the guide members for retaining said bars against lateral shifting movement on the guide members.

4. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back portion, guide members at the ends of the back portion, a transversely curved retaining plate extending longitudinally of the back portion between the guide members, retaining bars slidably mounted on the guide members, and a longitudinally disposed clamping strip eX- tending the full length of the bars frictionally engaging the guide members and the retaining plate for retaining said bars against latral shifting movement on the guide m'emers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in

the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

CHARLES H. FRANZ, JR.l 

